Folding top for vehicles.



G. WOLPERMANN.

FOLDING TOP FOR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATIOK FILED AUG. 1, 1912.

Patented June 17 1913.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS WIT/ E8858 Z. ymmm CLARENCE E. S' IEERE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PAPER-LIFTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17,1913.-

Application ,filed February 15, 1909. Serial No. 177,9B9.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. STEERE, a: citizen'of the United State's of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cooli, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper- Lifting Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to automatic paper lifting devices and has for its objectimprovements in suchdevice's.

One of the special objects is to make the ,device so that it will. automatically maintain the top of a pile of paper at a given height, and to make the operations associated with such work as convenient and economical as possible.

Another object of my invention is to provide a paper lifting device which will be independent of other devices with which it is associated so that it may be moved about from place to place and at different times may be used with different printing presses to which it is desired to feed paper. To this end the frame used is self-contained and supports thereon, not only the lifting mechanism itself, but the motor, its connections for raisingand lowering the lifting mechanism, and the means by which the action of the motor is controlled. \Vhen so madethis device is not dependent for its operation upon physical connection with the press to which it lifts the paper, and may be started and stopped without regard to the operation or idleness of any other mechanism.

' Still another object. of my invention is to provide, in the connections between the high speed motor and the slowly moving paper platform, a reducing gear which will not of itself run backward under a load, and to connect the platform to this by,a

friction connection which may be released to permit the platform to descend at any desired speed without the necessity of using the .movement of the motor to accomplish such lowering. In doing this I have a planetary gearing for reducing the speed, in which planetary gearim the two central gears differ but little in diameter and has the smaller of the two for the fixed gear.

Other objects will he self-evident from the description hereinafter given.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section;-Fig. 2 is an end elevation; Fig. 3 is a partial section on line 3'3 of Fig. 1; Fig.4 is an enlarged elevation of the contadt deyioe which controls the height of .the top of. the plle of papers; Fig. 5 is h'side elevation, and Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a diagram of the electric circuits, Figj'8 is aplan of a detail. I V

In the said drawings, A is a frame work,

on the upper part of which is a shaft B. On one endof the shaft B is a nest of planet- -,ary gears in a case C, the larger one of the central gears D of WhlCll is secured to the shaft;' while the other the smaller central gear -E is normally held in a fixed position by a band brake F controlled bymeans of a hand wheel H and a screw G. The case C has gearteeth on its periphery which are in mesh with a pinion tin the shaft lof the motor M, said motor being supported on the frame A by a-suitable bracket A The planetary gearing is arranged so that the high speed of the motor will be transformed into a very slow speed of the shaft B. On the shaft B are sprocket wheels J which carry chains K, and on these chains is hung a platform L for carrying .the pile of paper P. The platform is guided by rollers L which the frame A.

On abridgetree A of the frame A is a bracket X in which-slides a vertical rod N having a roller N" at its lower end. Secured to one side of the rod N is a contact strip 0 partly cut away as shown at Q. Insulatingly secured 'to the-bracket N are contact pieces Q. and Q which normally engage the contact strip 0. The rod N normallv rests by gravity at the position showrfin Pie. 4, and in this position thestrip O closes electrical connection between the pieces Q and \Vhcn, however. the rod N is raised so that the point'O is above the piece Q, the electrical connection between Q andQ is broken.

\ta suitable place on the frame A is a solenoid S which controls a contact lever It adapted to sweep over contact points R. The motor M, and a suitable source of elco tricity are connected to thelever R and contacts R as 'shown in Fig. 7. The sole noid S' is connected up through a switch T.

and batter V with tlze'contact pieces Q and Q. as shown in ,the same figure. Also ser-rrcd on bridgetrees A are crossbars A provided with slots A. Supported. under I run in sultable guides in t'uates the same to cause it to throw the arm 1 from the source WV through the motor M and .These revolvin about the stationarv car E and again raises the point above the removing a bunch of sheets of paper, such removal will not put a lateral strain on the I N does, or at least before 0 rises above Q.

these crossbar's, adjustable by means of bolts passing throi a. the slots, are bearings 20 carrying a Sllt'lfl El on which are wheels 22 in the form of pulleys. Mounh-id on studs at each end of one of the crossbars A are pulleys E23 and 2 1'. Secured to the pulley 23, and turning therewith, is a gear 25 in mesh with the gear on the periphery of the case C. In line with these pulleys a re two other pulleys 26 and 27, one. of wl ecurcd to the shaft 21 and the other of v ul idler serving as a tightener for. the belt from pulley 23 to pulley 'lhis hell serves to drive the shaft 21. lostead of the belt here shown, a chain, and sprocket wheels may be used, the belt being snown for simplicity of illustration. '1

The operation is as follows ming the switch T to be open, the platform l. at its lowest position and the brake band F tightened so as'tohold the gear E in a tired position, paper is piled. upon the platform to a desired height. The switch '1. is then closed. This completes a circuit from the battery V through. the solenoid S and 510-- R from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 7. This closes the circuit causes said motor to drive the gear C, towhich are secured the planetary pnnons C.

drive the gear D, and consequently the shaft B. The movement of the shaft B acts to lift the platform L very slowly. \Vhen the top of the pile of paper engages the roller N it liftsthe rod N and contact strip O. As soon as the point 0 rises'above QB the circuit through the sblenoid is broken, and this in turn breaks the circuit through. the motor M. Thereupon the motor stops, lea ving the pile of paper at the desired height. If now a. portion of the paper be rcmovcd,- the rod N will fall, again closing the circuit for the solenoid; which, as before described, stafts, the motor. lVhen the top of the remainingpile of paper engages the roller N piece Q the motor will again stop. This is continued until the paper is all removed and the platform'L engages the roller N to stop the device. The roller N is used on the lower end of the rod l so that upon rod N The lower edges of the Wheels or rollers 22 are lower than the roller N When it is'desired to have the top of the pile-of paper pushed over to one side, as shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 2i. 1s ad, sled on the bars A so that the wheels 22 will toucli't-he edge of the pile before the roller so as to 'break the circuit for" 't-he'motor.

These rollers 22 turn in thedirection of the arrow of Fig. 2, and push the paper over as shown. The amount of such pushing over is determined by the adjustment of the shaft The platform is lowered by turm ing the hand wheel ll to release the brake baud F and permit the gear E- to freely rotate on its hearing. In th ,(IHCllllOIl, the

weight of the platform turns the gear l),

which is se ured thereto, to drive the small gears (1. As the gear E is no lon er held o C5 in a fixed position'thcse small gears freely turn on their pins C and the platform is rapidly lowered by gravity. A. too rapid lowering of the platform may be prr-ionted by retaining a sligightfrictumal contact between the brake band F and the gear E. A new pile of paper may then he placed on the platform, the brake tightened and the device started as before. To prevent the motor from running during the process of lowering the platform, the switch T should be opened before the brake is released.

Planetary gearing of the kind mentioned in this connection is desirable, not only because it enables me to get a great reduction of speed in a small compass, but it will not drive the motor backwardunder the load on the platform when the power shut off from the motor. This last is accoi'nplishcd by having the smaller of the two central gears the stationary one, and the larger for the driven one. Thus, the gear E held by the brake is smaller in diameter than the gear -D secured to the driven shaft B. The planetary pinions travel around the shaft B whenever the gears D and E move with re spect to each other. If an attempt be made to produce such movement by turning shaft B when gear E is held stationary, the long gear arm will act to drive the short pinion arm, and the long pinion arm will bear against the stationary short gear arm. That this is a condition of self-lock is evident from the fact that an analysis will show thatif the gearing can be moved by force applied to shaft B, then the load would lift itself. Thus, if a strain be ap plied through the shaft B to move th gear D clockwise so as to rotate the pinions contraclockwise on their spindles, then because the large pinion engages the small gear that pinion will, for a given rotation, move through a l rger are on gear E than does the small pinion on gear D. This would cause the spindles C to travel contraclockwise about the shaft B and carry the gear D againstits own strain.

\Vhat I claim is 1. The combination with a platform, and a source of power for raising it, of a connection between the power and the platform consisting of a planetary gearing consisting of gears revolving abouttwo central gears on a common axi's,'a brake by which one of the central gears is held in a fixed position pivotsli so that their outer ends will move toward said how l. the links 18 meanwhile swinging relatively to the braces 2'2 and rods 11 about the p vots ll to the position shown in Fig. A further effect of the operation so far described will be to cause a swinging movement and a pull to be exerted on the links 17 and the how 14' conse quently swung hack on its pivots 1;) toward the rods ll and bow 1.": which latter is also swung on its pivots .16. the entire top in its folded condition having the appearance illust *ated in Fig. 2. .\s the links 17 and 1S. braces 92 and links it are located on the inside of the various elements with which they are connected the said links 17 and 18. braces and links 24 will not 'prevent a compact folding of the top as can he plainlv seen by referring to Fig. It is. of cour e. to be understood that the cover 10 will easily and readily accommodate itself to these various operations and will be brought to a folded condition in more or less the usual manner. \Vhen in its completely folded condition my improved top occupies a minimum amount of space and is entirely out of the way and does not interfere with the vision of the occupants of the vehicle or the ready operation thereof. In its folded condition the said top also does not materially project bevond the confines of the vehicle and is thus not likely to become damaged or smashed through contact with extraneous elements. Another important advantage of my improved top resides in the fact that it may be brought to an operative or to an inoperative position by simply manipulating the main bow 4 thus doing; away with the necessity for actuating a number of separate elements when a chance in position is desired.

\Vhilc I prefer to have the links 17 and 18, braces 22 and links 24 duplicated on opposite sides of the vehicle top. it is to be understood that these elements may only be 10- i cated on one side of said vehicle top. if this is found desirable.

The connection between the main how 4 and the body of the vehicle may be a detachable one so that. the top may be completely and entirely removed from the vehicle. if desired. As an example of such structure the main bow 4 may be provided with pins 4* removably secured in any manner in eyes 5* rigidly attached to the vehicle body 1.

Various changes in the form shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

T claim:

1. folding top for vehicles comprising a main ection movablv connected with said vehicle. an articulated auxiliary Pttl0fl movably connected with said main section and adapted to extend horizontal! ne; said vehicle, means carried by said main sec tion having a portion extending lengthwise of and parallel to said auxiliary section in its extended position and connected with said auxiliary section on opposite sides of and in close proximity to a joint thereof for suspending the auxilia y section in operative position and a flexible cover connected with said sections.

2. A folding top for vehicles comprising a main how, a peak bow: rods pivotally connected at one end with said main bow and at the other end with said peak bow, a brace movably carried by said main bow and extending parallel to said peak bow in its extended condition. connections from the one end of said brace to a. rod and to said peak bow respectively and means for maintaining said brace in operative position whereby said peak bow is suspended in its extended condition over said vehicle.

3. A folding top for vehicles comprising a main bow pivotally secured to said vehicle a rearwardly extending bow pivotally connected with said main bow. forwardly extending rods pivotally. connected with said main bow. a front bow pivotally connected with the free ends of said rods, braces pivotally mounted on said main bow, links pivotally connected with the one end of said braces and themselves pivotally connected with said rods and said forward bow respectively at opposite sides of the pivotal connection between said forward bow and said rods, links pivotaly connected at one end with the opposite ends of said braces and having their other ends pivotally connected with said rearwardly extending bow whereby said forward bow and said rods are rigidly supported in operative position and a cover connected with all of said bows and with said vehicle.

4. A folding top for vehicles comprising a main how. a peak bow. rods pivotally connected with said main bow and with said peak bow. means pivotally mounted on said main bow and connections diverging from said means to a rod and said peak bow respectively whereby said peak bow is suspended over said vehicle.

5. A folding top for vehicles comprising a main bow pivotally mounted thereon, an auxiliary bow pivotally connected with said main how. a peak bow. rods having one end pivotally secured tosaid peak bow and the other end pivotally connected to said main how. a brace pivotally mounted on said main bow and extending pa allel to said peak bow in its extended condition. comfections from one end of said brace to a rod and said peak bow respectively. and a link connected with the opposite end of said brace and with said auxiliary bow.

6. A folding top for vehicles comprising a main buw piVuinllY mounted tl1ere0n,.an auxiliary 110w pivol'ally cunnected with said main how. a peak bow, rods having one end pivotully secured to said peak bow and the other end pimtall v conneeled to said main how, a brave pimtnlly mounted on said main how and extending parallel to said peak bow in its extended condition, connections from one end of said brace to a rod and said peak '0 how respectively. a link eennected with the opposite end of said brace and with said auxiliary bow, and an auxiliary peak bow piwtally mounted on said rods.

In testirn0n whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing 1.5

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

